“It’s next week, I tell you!” I told P. looking at the calendar hanging by the kitchen door.

“Incroyable !”

This is really the way we feel this year. Christmas next week? I don’t think we have been as little prepared for Christmas as we have this year. Preparing for bébé‘s arrival has taken every bit of our energy and time — and thoughts. Take for example the following: I am unable to remember where I put things, sometimes even the point of a conversation, stopping myself in the middle of a sentence.

It’s funny, really!

With food, though, things seem to have stayed somewhat on track, at least consistent. I don’t forget to prepare food, and to eat — quite on the contrary. I did not think much about it at first, but I have even started to freeze some dishes to keep us going during the first days we will spend with bébé. Then, food ideas have kept flooding my mind too, making me wish I had more time, and ability to eat, the many things I really want to cook.

I made these amuse-bouches for example, for one of the videos kindly shot by the people at How2Heroes. Ah..oh…yes, please, be indulgent, it’s my first cooking video experience — with, on top, a pregnant woman’s brain.

These potato nests are filled with flavors. They are light and refreshing, wonderful before starting a festive meal. In only one mouthful, you can taste crispy potatoes with a finish made of fried leeks, sweet and juicy apple and pomegranate, silky crème fraiche, and refreshing crab. The bonus? All the steps can be made ahead of time, and assembled at the last minute.

They will be on the menu for our Christmas, should we be home that day – unless bébé decides to arrive then, and feast with us.

Well, we shall see about that. In the meantime, I ate these treats this afternoon. Excellent as a snack for a gourmande pregnant woman!

I promise!

Potato Nests with Crab and Apple Topping

(For about 20 pieces)

You need:

2 potatoes (baking or Yukon Gold are fine) peeled and grated, about 7 to 8 oz

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Salt

1 egg, beaten lightly

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Freshly grated red peppercorns, to taste

1 oz melted butter

1/2 cup crab meat (lump)

1/2 organic green apple, grated or cut in small sticks

2 tablespoons pomegranate seeds

1 scallion, chopped

1 tablespoon chopped coriander

1/2 tablespoon chopped chives + more to decorate

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon lime juice

Salt and pepper

Crème fraîche, to serve

Steps:

Preheat your oven at 420 F (210 C).

In a bowl, combine the grated potatoes with the egg and nutmeg. Add the parsley and season with salt and red peppercorns (or black pepper).

Take a mini muffin pan (I used a silicone one, all molds are 1.5 inch) and grease it with cooking spray. Take a small amount of the grated potatoes in your hands. Squeeze out the excess juice and press it down at the bottom of each mold, to make a nest.

Add 1/2 teaspoon butter in each mold.

Cook for 25 minutes, or until brown. Remove, unmold and let cool.

In the meantime, in another bowl, combine the crab with the apple and lime juice. Add the olive oil, coriander, scallions and chives. Season with salt and pepper.

Fill each potato nest with the crab preparation and add a drop of crème fraiche on top. Top with a few pomegranate seeds. Decorate with chives or fried leeks.

The recipe and the photos are just beautiful, as usual.. so no wonder about it.
It was really nice watching the video, it was a little bit like meeting you.
So thanks for that, you’re a pleasure for eyes and ears!
All the best to you and bébé!

Great videos Béa! Look out Rachel Ray! I see you use Herbamare as a salt substitute. It is a staple in our house as well. Yes, Christmas has crept up on us this year too. I’m only just now planning our menu for the big day. Can’t wait to hear news of the bébé.

Bea, if the baby decides to arrive on December 25, then we’ll share the same birthday!! Let us know, ok!! Promise!!
Beautiful photos, as always, but I truly love the colours and details on these ones!! Wait, it’s the food too!! I wish I could have some of those right now…
And if I don’t “see” you again until after Christmas, Joyeux Noel, and enjoy yourselves with bebe!!

I made these for my husband’s birthday party yesterday and they were a total success. I barely managed to taste them (only two) as my guests could not have enough of them. They go really well with champagne! Thank you for this beautiful, yummy hors d’oeuvre.

I made these this weekend for a small gathering and was surprised how easy they are. The potato nests were a bit soft — I expected them to be a bit crunchier. The filling was tasty but the flavors were a bit too subtle. Next time, I’ll amp up the lime juice and the salt and pepper. Both both halves of the recipe are great to know about for future reference — I’m thinking about making larger potato nests to cradle vegetables for a summer buffet and the crab could easily stuff small tomatoes for a picnic.

Béatrice Peltre is a food writer, stylist and photographer working out of her home studio in Boston.
She is a regular contributor to the Boston Globe Food Section, and her work has appeared in many publications
such as Saveur, Food and Wine, Whole Living, Fine Cooking, the Wall Street Journal, NPR, the Huffington Post,
the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, Edible Boston, Living France, the New York Times Diner’s Journal,
and in many other international magazines.